Abstract: The present invention includes a context-free grammar (CFG) engine which communicates through an exposed interface with a speech recognition engine. The context-free grammar engine, in one illustrative embodiment, handles loading and unloading of grammars, as well as maintaining a desired activation state of the grammars which are loaded. Further, the CFG engine represents all loaded grammars, and their corresponding activation states, as a single grammar to the speech recognition engine.

Abstract: A process for making detergent granules having a bulk density above 500 g/l involving: (a) providing a fluidized bed; (b) providing an apertured inflow base located below the fluidized bed for introducing fluidization gas into the fluidized bed; (c) providing a grid interposed between the fluidized bed and the apertured inflow base, the grid having a mesh size of less than 600 &mgr;m; (d) providing a surfactant preparation in liquid to paste form; and (e) introducing the surfactant preparation into the fluidized bed to form the detergent granules.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method of notifying a speech related application of events generated by a speech related engine. A middleware layer receives a notification selection from the application. The notification selection is indicative of a selected notification mechanism for notifying the application of the events. The middleware component receives an event indication from the engine. The event indication is indicative of an event generated by the engine. The event indication is transferred to the application according to the selected notification mechanism.

Abstract: A patterning device comprises a patterning cavity which has an opening located at the surface of the patterning device within a transfer region, where a substrate during patterning comes into conformal contact with the patterning device. A service cavity is located in a service region of the patterning device and is connected to the patterning cavity, such that a patterning fluid is able to flow from the service cavity to the patterning cavity. A patterning method uses this device.

Abstract: The invention describes a stamp device for printing a pattern on a surface of a substrate having a two-sided rigid carrier layer providing on it's first side a patterned layer made of a first material and being combined on it's second side with a soft layer made of a softer material than said first material.

Abstract: A water-free surfactant composition is presented having (a) a fatty alcohol sulfate corresponding to the formula R1O—SO3X where R1 is a linear alkyl chain containing 16 or 18 carbon atoms and X is an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkylammonium, alkanolammonium or glucammonium and (b) an alcohol sulfate corresponding to the formula R2O—SO3X where R2 is an alkyl chain containing 12 to 15 carbon atoms consisting of a minimum 20 percent by weight branched alkyl chains and a maximum 80 percent by weight unbranched alkyl chains, and X is an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkylammonium, alkanolammonium or glucammonium. The surfactant composition has a reduced potential for irritation and good flowability and solubility in cold water. The surfactant composition is useful in laundry detergents, dishwashing detergents and other cleaners.

Abstract: A water-free surfactant composition containing: (a) a fatty alcohol sulfate corresponding to the formula R.sup.1 O--SO.sub.3 X, where R.sup.1 is a linear alkyl chain, and X is an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkyl ammonium, alkanolammonium or glucammonium; and (b) an alkyl benzenesulfonate corresponding to the formula R.sup.2 --Ph--SO.sub.3 X where R.sup.2 is an alkyl chain containing 10 to 14 carbon atoms, Ph is a phenyl group and X is alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkyl ammonium, alkanolammonium or glucammonium. The fatty alcohol sulfate and alkyl benzenesulfonate are present in the surfactant composition in a weight ratio of 50:50 to 90:10. The water-free surfactant composition provides a reduced potential for irritation, good flow behavior and solubility in cold water. The surfactant composition is useful in laundry detergents, dishwashing detergents and cleaners.

Abstract: A patterning device comprises a patterning cavity which has an opening located at the surface of the patterning device within a transfer region, where a substrate during patterning comes into conformal contact with the patterning device. A service cavity is located in a service region of the patterning device and is connected to the patterning cavity, such that a patterning fluid is able to flow from the service cavity to the patterning cavity. A patterning method uses this device.

Abstract: Light-colored, low-viscosity surfactant concentrates, are made by mixing: mixing: (a) a sugar surfactant selected from the group consisting of an alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycoside, a fatty acid-N-alkyl polyhydroxyalkylamide and a combination thereof and, (b) a betaine in a ratio by weight of (a) to (b) of from about 90:10 to about 10:90, with the proviso that components (a) and (b)are present in the gel phase.

Abstract: A process for suppressing the foaming properties of a cleaning product by adding to the cleaning product a foam-suppressing additive consisting of polyethylene glycol ethers corresponding to formula IR.sub.1 O--(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n --R.sub.2 (I)wherein R.sub.1 is a long-chain branched alkyl or alkenyl radical, R.sub.2 is an alkyl radical containing 4 to 8 carbon atoms and n is a number from 4 to 9, and wherein the radical R.sub.1 O is derived from an alcohol mixture consisting of at least 45 mol percent of an equimolar isomer mixture of 2-hexyl-1-dodecanol and 2-octyl-1-decanol and 0 to 55 mol percent of 2-hexyl-1-decanol.

Abstract: Liquid compounds useful as laundry detergents, dishwashing detergents and cleaning formulations are made by mixing (a) an alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycoside and (b) an alkyl polyalkylene glycol ether in the absence of water in a weight ratio of (a) to (b) of 10:90 to 90:10.

Abstract: Fatty alcohol (ether) sulfates which are obtained by co-sulfating mixtures of (a) C.sub.8-22 fatty alcohols and (b) C.sub.8-22 fatty alcohol ethoxylates containing an average of 1.9 to 3.9 ethylene oxide units in a ratio by weight of 20:80 to 80:20, and then neutralizing the mixtures thus co-sulfated with aqueous bases. The substances have distinctly improved low-temperature behavior in relation to ether sulfates with comparable degrees of ethoxylation, and are useful as components of surface-active compositions.

Abstract: New toilet soaps contain: (a1) 4 to 7% by weight alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides and/or (a2) 2 to 7% by weight fatty acid N-allcylpolyhydroxyalkylamide; (b) 45 to 95% by weight soap and (c) 0 to 10% by weight anionic surfactants selected from the group of alkyl sulphates, isethionates, taurides, sarcosinates, mono- and dialkylsulfosuccinates, ether carboxylic acids, sulphotriglycerides and alkyloligoglucoside sulphates. These new soaps are characterized among others by an improved creaminess, a high foaming power, remarkable cosmetic compatibility with the skin and mechanical firmness.

Abstract: A wetting agent composition for pretreating textiles containing mixed ethers corresponding to formula I: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a strictly linear alkyl radical containing from 8 to 10 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 is an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, m is a number from 0.5 to 2 and n is a number from 6 to 9.

Abstract: Fatty alcohols of the formula IR.sup.1 OH (I)wherein R.sup.1 is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched aliphatic radical having from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms are made by an improvement in the process which comprises hydrogenating a fatty acid, a fatty acid methyl ester or a combination thereof to form a fatty alcohol. The improvement comprises removing a head fraction from the fatty acid, the fatty acid methyl ester or the fatty alcohol in such a quantity that the fatty alcohol has an iodine value of from about 20 to about 110 and less than about 4.5% by weight of conjugated compounds.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing .alpha.-branched aliphatic monocarboxylic acids with 12 to 48 carbon atoms. In a first step of the process (a), .alpha.-branched aliphatic monohydric alcohols (Guerbet alcohols) are converted in the presence of caustic alkali into the alkali salts of the corresponding .alpha.-branched aliphatic monocarboxylic acids. In a second step of the process (b), the .alpha.-branched aliphatic monocarboxylic acids are released from the alkali salts by soap splitting in the presence of an inert diluting agent.

Abstract: A source for intense coherent electron pulses of an energy below 1 keV comprises an ultrasharp electron-emitting tip and an anode both arranged in mutual alignment inside a vacuum envelope A pulsed potential with an amplitude in the range between 100 V and 500 V and with a variable pulse rate is applied between said tip and said anode. The tip is maintained negative with respect to said anode, the tip having a sharpness such that the electric field at its surface exceeds 10.sup.7 V/cm at said pulsed potential.

Abstract: An aqueous detergent composition containing: (a) from 12 to 15% by weight of a nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkyl oligoglycosides, alkenyl oligoglycosides, and mixtures thereof; (b) from 20 to 30% by weight of an alkyl sulfate; (c) from 40 to 60% by weight of an alkyl ether sulfate, and (d) from 12 to 15% by weight of a component selected from the group consisting of amphoteric surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof, all weights being based on the solids content of the composition.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to improve the storage stability and flow and pumping characteristics of liquid alkylglycoside preparations by adding the minimum amounts of non-alkylglycosidic active substances, so that, owing to the increase ease with which they can be handled, the preparations can be used in the manufacture of washing and cleaning agents. This has been achieved by the use of aqueous mixtures consisting essentially of: 20 to 60% by weight of an alkylglycoside of the formula R.sup.1 --O(G).sub.n, in which R.sup.1 is an alkyl group with 8 to 22 C-atoms, G is a glycose unit and n is a number between 1 and 10; 0.1 to 3% by weight of a sulphate-type or sulphonate-type anionic surfactant selected from the group comprising alkyl sulphates, ether sulphates, alkanesulphonates, .alpha.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of isopalmitic acid esters of branched aliphatic polyols containing 2 to 6 primary hydroxyl groups and 4 to 10 carbon atoms as a base oil for two-stroke engine lubricants. The isopalmitic acid esters are low in viscosity, even at low temperatures, and do not crystallize out in gasoline, even over periods of several days.